Do You See Through God’s Eyes?
Good Morning Friends,
Today is a day we can rejoice in the activity of seeking the value of each person we meet and look for opportunities to bring God’s offer of restoration and hope as we die to our unrighteous past and come alive in Christ and begin to see
how Jesus sees us and perhaps something more. Do You See Through God’s Eyes?
Scripture: We are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
Ephesians 2:10 (NRSV)
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:19-20 (NRSV)
For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NRSV)
Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained. Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.
Philippians 3:12-17 (NRSV)
Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7 (NRSV)
Message: The WWJD abbreviation of “What would Jesus do?” movement became popular in the 1990’s symbolized with bracelets with the initials of the question. It is however a much older question.
Charles Spurgeon preached on the very subject in the late 1800’s. But the problem is that we are not Jesus. It gets us back to a discussion of the organic and organizational aspects of church. For in our community life and even in our personal life His ways are not our ways. However when we submit to what God has created in us, God can and does recreate us from within, restoring us and letting us see at least some of what God has planned for us from the beginning. God uses our gifts combined with the gift of faith to expand the faith. Our destiny then is determined by whose management under which we serve. Are we using our gifts for good to expand the faith? Yes it is a matter of perspective for each act of faith requires more love. And friends, unless we see with the eyes of God we cannot truly love. God sees us in our affliction and we submit to His mercy… We see the affliction of others and offer mercy. That is imitating Christ. So let us spend a little more time in prayer this morning considering a few habits that might collectively help us to imitate Christ beyond what is skin deep without getting legalistic.
Pray we understand scripture as a guide for our daily lives. Pray we seek God in prayer daily. Pray we follow Christ with devotion no matter what. Pray we are guided by the Holy Spirit. Pray we seek and serve out of thanks to God using the gifts God has given us. Pray we are accountable to the body of believers. Pray we are sanctified in the world but not of it. Pray that our example will lead others to Jesus. Pray that we stand strong in our commitment to Christ. Pray we fight for the truth to be in us. Pray we recognize the attributes of our awesome God so we might strive to become more pure. Pray we might put on Christ. Pray we come to the end of ourselves. Pray we have a healthy heart. Pray grace abounds in our lives. Pray we are changed from the inside out. Pray we have a personal relationship with Jesus that changes the way we see. Pray we see a merciful God in spite of our sin. Pray we see through the eyes of love. Pray God is revealed in and through our actions in the lives of others. Pray we imitate Christ.
Pray we praise God for the good example of Jesus. Pray we encourage loving role models. Pray we live as examples for others. Pray we admit our condition and accept the cure. Pray we have a purpose rooted in a love for others that glorifies our Savior. Pray we see that which God wants us to see. Pray that God sees the possibilities in us when others are confused by appearances. Pray we glimpse in love His reality. Pray we serve a God who sees when everyone else does not. Pray that we believe that God has a plan for our lives. Pray that we fulfill a dream to become significant because of what God is doing in and through us. Pray we not try to survive by pretense. Pray we be who God wants us to be. Pray we become the Body of Christ Together. Pray we see through the eyes of love.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 